Yu Shoukai, Qian Lingmei, Tong Tianlang, Ma Xujun
Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital and Clinical Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
PLoS One. 2025 Apr 29;20(4):e0322523. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0322523. eCollection 2025.
Gene expression profiling plays a crucial role in understanding the role of Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) in the prognosis and tumor immune microenvironment of various malignancies. The transcription factor KLF4 plays a crucial role in various cellular processes, including cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. Genetic alterations and aberrant KLF4 expression have been observed in many malignancies, thus suggesting a potential role as a prognostic marker and therapeutic target. Herein, a systematic analysis of KLF4 genetic alterations revealed the mutation, amplification, and deletion frequencies across different cancer types. The genetic alteration patterns varied across malignancies, thus highlighting the diverse roles of KLF4 in different tumor contexts. Secondly, the prognostic significance of KLF4 expression was assessed in multiple cancers. High expression levels of KLF4 were associated with better clinical outcomes in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma, while low KLF4 expression correlated with a favorable prognosis in certain malignancies. In conclusion, the genetic alterations, dysregulated RNA expression, and prognostic implications of KLF4 in malignancies underscore its significance in cancer biology. The present findings will aid in understanding the role of KLF4 in tumor biology and its association with immune responses. Future investigations should focus on elucidating the functional roles and regulatory mechanisms of KLF4 to further assess its potential as a therapeutic target and predictive biomarker in cancer management.
基因表达谱分析在理解Krüppel样因子4（KLF4）在各种恶性肿瘤的预后和肿瘤免疫微环境中的作用方面起着至关重要的作用。转录因子KLF4在包括细胞分化、增殖和凋亡在内的各种细胞过程中发挥着关键作用。在许多恶性肿瘤中都观察到了基因改变和KLF4表达异常，因此提示其作为预后标志物和治疗靶点的潜在作用。在此，对KLF4基因改变的系统分析揭示了不同癌症类型中的突变、扩增和缺失频率。基因改变模式在不同恶性肿瘤中有所不同，从而突出了KLF4在不同肿瘤背景下的多样作用。其次，评估了KLF4表达在多种癌症中的预后意义。KLF4高表达与肾透明细胞癌较好的临床结局相关，而KLF4低表达与某些恶性肿瘤的良好预后相关。总之，KLF4在恶性肿瘤中的基因改变、RNA表达失调和预后意义强调了其在癌症生物学中的重要性。目前的研究结果将有助于理解KLF4在肿瘤生物学中的作用及其与免疫反应的关联。未来的研究应集中于阐明KLF4的功能作用和调控机制，以进一步评估其作为癌症治疗靶点和预测生物标志物的潜力。
